#it came out in like 2019 what is wrong w me

[skrunksthatwunk]

if i had a nickle for every time a niche playstation fighting game for an anime i liked had gay bits added in that i think about a lot i'd have. well you know the rest

(i stole the kuwameshi gifs from @phoenixspirited btw. and the klk if screenshots are from here)

[ashoss]

stephanie & bruce fic recs

for @peachie-wren13 :DD

Permutations & Hinterlands - cabezas_de_vaca

steph & bruce

7.5k words, 1 chapter

summary:

She and Bruce are complicated (not bad complicated, not wrong complicated, just complicated, because he isn’t her father and will never be her father and yet he sort of also is) but he cares. It gets lost sometimes, under the demands of Gotham, but it’s there.

And so, she just asks him. “Do you want to go to Colorado with me?”

Or: Bruce, Steph, and a road trip

* heed the tags !! angsty

dont wanna long post this so more under the cut :)

sweet child o’ mine - Nokomis

steph & bruce, steph & alfred

4,4k words, 1 chapter

Summary:

Steph said cheerfully, “Bruce, from now on, consider yourself in possession of one Steph-mom.”

“Absolutely not,” Bruce said.

Steph took a bite of her cake, undeterred.

A Softer Gotham - Hinn_Raven (series)

steph & bruce, time travel

12.2k words, 3 works

summary: One night makes all the difference. Especially a night when Stephanie Brown, in the wrong dimension, interferes in a mugging.

though your eyes will need some time to adjust - popsunner

steph & bruce

4.4k words, 1 chapter

summary:

“I think…” Stephanie takes a deep breath, “I think I’m bad.”

“I don’t.”

“So what, I’m just supposed to believe you?”

“I am Batman.”

Stephanie snorts, “Yeah, you are… but what if I’m still bad?”

“Then I forgive you.” _______

Or: Stephanie and Bruce, figuring it out

Tuck Me In - OberonBronze

bruce & his kids (big on jason, but it does have cute scene w the other ones esp steph)

14.1k words, 1 chapter

summary:

Bruce Wayne and his long-standing habit of tucking his kids into bed.

Galas Suck - dottie_dc (dottie_wan_kenobi)

steph & bruce

1.9k words, 1 chapter

summary:

When she doesn’t respond, he looks down to her face, finding her staring in the direction of the doors they came in through. “Something on your mind?”

He’s really asking, why did you come and get me? If it’s just nerves, she would’ve been better off with one of the others. No, it must be something else.

Steph blinks, turning her gaze upwards. Never one to back down, she meets his eyes long enough for him to see she’s not in any distress, at least. “Just thinking.”

“About?”

“I don’t know,” she mumbles. “Everything. Nothing.”

------------

Written for the Gen Batfam Christmas Stocking 2019, for the prompt "Wayne Gala"

the early robin gets the worm - deargalileo

bruce & his kids

7k words, 1 chapter

summary:

bruce loves all of his children equally. its just when he has to wake them up, that there's an issue.

aka; the five times bruce tries to wake up his kids, and the one time that he doesn't.

DON’T YOU CRY, DRY YOUR EYES. - orpheusaki

steph & bruce

4.8k words, 1 chapter

summary:

After inhaling her food before Bruce's even halfway through his vanilla milkshake, Stephanie seems to have sobered up a little. She's looking less green, and more like she's trying to develop x-ray vision and look into Bruce's soul.

Or maybe she's still drunk, because she very suddenly and very bluntly tells him, "I used to wish you were my dad," drowning her chips into a little pot of ketchup.

Bruce pauses. He slowly drops the chicken nugget he was about to put in his mouth — since now is probably not the time to complain about how the nuggets are a little dry today.

(Bruce Wayne is not Stephanie Brown's father, not at all.)

*tbh anything by orpheusaki is gonna be an amazing read, ive loved all the fics ive read by them <333

Have I Told You About Minnie? - Hinn_Raven

steph & bruce, bruce & his kids

4.6k words, 1 chapter

summary:

After you’ve known Matches Malone long enough, you get used to him telling you about his kids. Not that his kids know about it.

too young to be taken seriously, too old to believe all this hypocrisy - Hinn_Raven

steph & jason & bruce

5.7k words, 1 chapter

summary:

When Crystal Brown goes into rehab, leaving Stephanie in the sole custody of her father, Steph decides to run away from home, and meets Jason Todd, who decides that she is the best little sister ever.

or:

"the dark knight is beaten up by children on the anniversary of his parents death... tragic"

theres not a lot of steph and bruce fics and it makes me sad :((

btw i have a google doc with a shitttttt ton of fics lol. its some recs ive been asked for so hope yall enjoy :)

[skullrift]

https://www.tumblr.com/skullrift/770905875833667584/sometimes-i-will-just-hyperfixate-on-my-system?source=share

I volunteer as tribute. Yap to me, stranger on the internet.

OMGGGGG YAYAYAYYAAAAA!!!!!!!! >:DD

okok ummmn im so bad at starting points HAALPPP. ig i can just go over like ??? origin n sys function stuff??? i think thats fun :33

ok so like,. ive technically known i was a system since 2020 BUUT when i was introduced to plurality as a concept it was thru ........ the dark side .......... and i was forced into labels that didnt fit me and i was wrong abt basically EVERYTHING (thats a WHOOOLE OTHER RAMBLE LAWLL) but around like late 2021 i said screw it and just rebuilt my system from the ground up

but like ive also been plural since a child i just didnt realize or identify as such but like THE SIGNS WERE THERE (SQUINTS AT ME CREATING MANY YOUTUBE ACCOUNTS AND "PRETENDING" 2 BE DIFFERENT PEOPLE) its hard for me to know our complete history cuz of that but i have a DECENT GRASP!!!!

nuni n jax were the initial split (the "core"s if u will) with jax being the trauma holder,,,, hes kinda just turned into the MENTAL ILLNESS MAN atp which makes sense?? cuz thats why he split to begin with. ,.. IDK IF THATS OVERSHAREY LAWLL. they were rly similar when we were younger but over time developed vry different identities,.. nuni hasnt changed very much but jax is like TOTALLYY different

nuni doesnt front much anymore cuz she went dormant 4 a while and its difficult for her to adapt to the current world cuz so much has changed but we always let her front 4 fun stuff :3 like we have a yearly tradition where her and my partner go to see a christmas play its so cuuuute X))

i split next!!! we arent totally sure why we kinda went off the idea that i was nuni's imaginary friend for a while but we dont know for sure,,.,, it was some time around 2017ish from what we can tell!!! i split as an introject of an animation memer actually (animation memes were our LIFEEE BACK THEN) but i am COMPLETELY MY OWN PERSON NOW!!!

dire came around somewhere around the same time ,,, he split as a secondary protector n comforter of sorts!! he has gone thru many iterations and has multiple introject sources cuz he rly just took the form of who/what was the best comfort source 4 us at the time!! he started as an oc introject tho n thats still vry important to his identity :3 later he ended up as the form of a character who was german and had a german accent and that has had a lasting impact on his voice as well!!! i could ramble abt dire 4ever hes so silly we love him

next was reffy!!! reffy was split on november 27th 2019!!! this is the day we joined a danganronpa rp WRHKSDFGH discord server n met our bfff <33 we didnt rly have friends at the time and were generally struggling with social things,, so jax kinda put all of his traits he deemed most "likeable" in2 reffy and created him to be the ideal version of himself that ppl would like and went dormant for a whileee ,,, it took reffy a while 2 properly develop as a person but he is vry important to our system cuz of what he represents!!! we celebrate his birthday every year too :33

soo for a while it was just us 5!! we thought we had other alters sometimes cuz identity is wacky (plus we r like all made up of fragments tbhh)

then august of last year driell split!!! he was made on purpose (by jax AGAAAAINNNN) cuz him & his bf in our partner sys decided 2 have kids!!! he doesnt front vry much cuz hes rly socially awkward and a lot of our daily life requires TALKING TO PPL but we want him to front more D:

and THENNNN early this year we went thru ,... EVENTS!!!! and it kinda threw our whole system function OUT THE WINDOWWW BUT ITS OKAY!!!!

noxious split as a direct response 2 the Event .,, it started as a reffy clone tbh (we were actually planning 2 integrate them at first) but its slowly developing its own identity totally separate!! it fronted a lot in september and made a lotta progress w that :D sily dog creechur

fen has been around 4 a while but she was a "sub alter" to reffy and went by reffen but a few months ago we had a think and went HMMMM U KNOW. ACTUALLY SHE IS LIKE THEIR WHOLE OTHER PERSON SHE IS NOT A SUB ALTER ANYMORE!!! so we let them split off completely n its been better for both them and reffy !!!!

AND LASTLYYYY ZANE!!! he split on november 9th of this year!!! so some prior context jax is made up of a TONN of fragments just cuz of how his trauma holding function works. but he doesnt rly like splitting any of them off cuz hes . WEIRD. but we went to an emo night party and one of the fragments in him had a WHOLE AWAKENING listening to mcr and fallout boy and getting drunk in the moshpit (more context jax refuses to listen 2 anything but green day cuz HES!!! WEIRD!!!!) and it took like 3 days of internal deliberation but jax FINALLY DECIDED to let him be his own person!!!! and hes very happy that way X)

SOOO UM. YEA!!!! THAT IS A HUGE ESSAY!!!!! I HOPE THAT IS NOT TOO MUCH INFORMATION EHFKFJGHE

here r refs of us/what we look like cuz yes :33

height chart is from like march ish ??? so our recent splits his year r not included in it also zane doesnt have a proper ref OOOPSS (hes 6'1" btw) whatever its fine XD

THANK U FOR ASKING AND LISTENING TO MY SILLY GOOFY RAMBLES I GET VERY EXCITED TALKING ABOUT MY SYSTEM RAAAA ‼️ more asks r always welcomed too heheheee /nf

- 🖤

[choicesficwriterscreations]

May Creator of the Month: Saibug1022

Each month, CFWC highlights one of our talented fanfic writers or artists, and this month’s creator of the month is @saibug1022! The writer is selected at random. More info can be found on the navigation page. Past COTM's can be found here.

Quick Links:

Tumblr Blog Masterlist

How do you want to be known on Tumblr? 

Salem, Sai, or saibug are all good! They/he pronouns

1- When did you start playing Choices? What was the first book you played? 

I started playing Choices in 2017-ish, I don’t remember what my first book was for sure but I remember the first book I played that really drew me in and got me into the app was The Elementalists.

2- When and why did you join Choices fandom?

I don’t think I really joined the fandom until…a few weeks after that mass cancellation announcement where they announced they’d cancelled It Lives 3, Elementalists 2, Nightbound 2, Hero 2, and RoD 2.

3- How did you pick your blog name? 

Originally it was a mashup of my dead name and a sweet nickname from my childhood, so when I came out I just changed it to incorporate my new name instead :)

4- Pull up the first post in your archive, and tell us about it!  

It was a repost of this screenshot and honestly I was right and should say it. Also this question taught me the archive feature existed so thank you that’ll come in handy lmao

5- Do you write fanfiction, create fan art, or are you one of those really gifted people who do both? 

I write fanfiction! I am trying to learn and practice art so who knows what could happen in the future. Oh and I also do lots of edits :)

6- How long have you been creating for Choices and for any other fandoms?

If we’re talking my true origins I actually started writing by writing Supernatural x reader fics in like 2017, but I didn’t start writing the fics I write now until Sanders Sides in 2019 and then I finally got around to Choices in about 2022 lmao. 7- What is your favorite Choices book, and what is your favorite Choices book to create for?

My favorite book is probably ILITW which is probably obvious, but as for my favorite book to CREATE for that’s tied between It Lives Within and BOLAS.

8- Share your first Choices fanfic or fan art that you posted with us. Do you still like it, or would you change it if you were creating it today?

My first fic was for Nightbound, called The Wrong Engagement. I still like it overall but I think I’d definitely change some things. When I first started writing for Choices I was so so focused on trying to keep MC as vague as possible while still giving them some character, so the stories often came across as bland or even boring.

9- What is your favorite piece of fiction or art that you created? 

My absolute favorite fic is actually something I don’t think I ever posted, but my favorite I’ve posted has probably gotta be a classic which is Val’s Resurrection. There are definitely some things I’d probably change now but it’s the longest fic I’ve written, still really holds up, and I’m really proud of the characterizations in it.

10- Do you have a fic/art that you didn’t expect to be well received, but it was? What about one you expected to do well but found it could use a little more love?

Walls of Regret is probably my biggest fic ever and let me tell you when I posted and wrote it I did not expect it to do as well as it did but I’m so glad it did. I can definitely think of some fics I think people would really like that didn’t get much love, including pretty much everything from the Windverse, but I gotta say Let The Shadows Fall Behind You, which is a fic/scene from my personal ongoing project, a Hero and Endless Summer Crossover

11- If you could write only angst, fluff, or smut for the rest of your writing life, which would it be and why? 

Angst, wholeheartedly, no hesitation. Angst is not only my talent but kind of what I’m known for. I actually kind of struggle to write fluff and ESPECIALLY smut. I’ve only done it a few times and it took days of me staring at the page for days and getting out maybe one sentence an hour.

12 - Do you ever recognize yourself in any of your MCs or in your writing?

Oh all of them. Every single MC has a little piece of me, whether it’s my experiences or my personality or my style or my interests or even the way I talk. 

13 - What element of writing/art do you struggle with most?

With smut at least I get ideas. I struggle so much with even getting ideas for fluff. My favorite things is to dive into the emotions and pain and trauma PB dance around, and finding the beauty in the dark things. I defer to the other amazing writers on this app for the fluff and I consume their fluff fics like a drowning man

14 - Do you have any neglected work you really want to finish?

Two things off the top of my head. My concept for a Hero sequel which includes an Endless Summer crossover. I mentioned that earlier. The second is something fondly called Into the Rowan-verse which was where my two ILW MCs, Castor and Julian, get stuck hopping through the multiverse and meeting a bunch of other people’s MCs.

15 - If someone you know in real life (who isn’t involved in fandoms) asked to see your work, would you let them? If yes, what would you show them first? 

It highly depends on the person and then from there I think I’d just show them my edits or character profiles because my fics you tend to need either full contextual knowledge or at least basic knowledge of the book.

16 - Are there any writers (published authors and/or fanfic writers) who influenced your writing or art? Are there any artists that influence you?

Published writers definitely Rick Riordan, he’s seriously influenced how I use character voices. But from the fandom my biggest inspirations right now are usually @aces-and-angels and @oh-so-you’re-a-nerd 

17- Which one of your stories would you most like to see as a movie/series? 

If I saw Into the Windverse does that count as cheating? But otherwise I’d die for my version of the It Lives Anthology (including ILW and Into the Rowanverse) to be made into a tv show with my headcanons, changes, and MCs.

18- Do you write original fiction or create non-fandom art? 

I do! I have an entire book trilogy fully plotted out that I’m working on writing, plus just writing a bunch with my own OCs.

19 -  What other hobbies do you have?

Pretty much just OC related things tbh. I watch tv a lot and YouTube, I play video games sometimes, and I listen to music ALL the time

[delugyu]

HEYYY 😃 girl not u saying our pussies are in sync im S(CREAMINGG) pre-ramble life update: yess im doing great honestly! last week was saur good, out of fear of doxxing myself unfortunately i will keep it pretty vague 🥲 i went to 2 different concerts & got to meet one of my fave artists twice !! still trying to process it all 😵‍💫 hope things are well for u too, school and personal life wise 🫶🏾

ofcc im super excited for by a string 🎉!! love spiderman aus tooo. i never got into marvel much so my brain is v ‘jungkook is spiderman’ rotted that i never explored other people being spiderman.. but honestly you’re so right about yeonjun being peter parker coded 🤔

what a win for thigh fucking nation, another #confirmed message from nina 🫡 whether it happens via cheating or not, we’re gonna get FED regardless ! your secret is safe with us mc (no it’s not, i’d be the first hoe to snitch LMFAO. me in tyun’s dms: im coming to u as a woman….)

sighs, even the mention of a taegyu threesome… absolutely gyu being a jealous brat would make it hotter are u joking. brat tamer tyun punishing mc for ‘using’ his (former) friend to learn how to please him…. but making gyu watch.. gyu hates only watching but thinks that’s the only way he can still have access to mc so he jumps at any opportunity to see tyun wreck you in hopes that if he proves himself good enough he can finally join. ARE U WALKING WITH ME?! my mouth is watering.

i definitely do find it interesting how quickly beomgyu became so morally corrupted and am interested in how he’s going to further corrupt the reader 🤔 from the beginning i would consider them both morally ambiguous but the shift was still palpable for gyu.

oh to be able to time skip like in the sims to see what occurs in the next part.. (no rush ofc, i merely joke)

— ♐️ stellium anon

HELLO HELLO!! 😚😚😚 fear of self doxxing is soooo real that’s literally why i don’t have discord LMFAO but i’m glad ur doing good! honestly this week has been great so far for me, i got an interview w a research lab that i’ve been dying to get into and my friend bought me tickets to pierce the veil so like no complaints tbh

omg i remember the jk being spider-man train!! i was only a bts fan from 2018-2019 but during that time i definitely saw so much of that lmao. sooo many cute edits came from that. i’ve been seeing a lot of really good spider-man yeonjun edits recently too which is great for writing inspo

LOLLLL like i can’t build up all that hype around thigh fucking just to not deliver it! also the snitching to taehyun LMFOAOJSHGS giving him the “hey girl!” text… tyunniepoo don’t worry there are other drabble universes where u won’t get cheated on ❤️ wait but speaking of, i got a vision yesterday abt doing a jennifer’s body au and i kind of need taehyun as jennifer…. my ten billion wips watching me add another one to my docs. but like come on possessive best friend aus are right up my alley I NEED TO!!!!

even seeing the words “jealous brat gyu” are making me tremble with desire…. I crave him… Carnally…. omg coming into my inbox with this mouthwatering panty-drenching idea WHATS WRONG WITH UUUU IM SUFFERING 😭😭😭 GOD WHATTTTT i need that so bad. beomgyu being all pissy watching taehyun turn u out, but he can’t control how it gets him rock hard and throbbing. he keeps quiet tho and doesn’t touch himself cause he wants to show you that he listens so well. and when taehyun’s finished he tells gyu to leave, but gyu looks at you with these big wide eyes like “what??? but i was so good??” as if you’ll pity him and override taehyun’s decision. and taehyun’s just raising an eyebrow at u basically daring you to tell beomgyu to stay…. FAWKKKKK

i love talking about characters’ moral codes lol and seeing the difference between how gyu and mc will justify their plummeting morals is so fun and deplorable lmao. i’m gonna have to write a gyu fic one day where he’s genuinely a good person cause so far all my drabbles, fics, and wips for him are varying levels of immoral/toxic/manipulative 😭

hehe i still am sticking to my word that p6 should be out in the first week of may, probably a few days after i release by a string. aiming to get by a string done before may 5th so ! idk never trust an author tho when they give a release date cause there’s some curse connected to it that will always make it come out later. that’s why i try to be vague with mine LMAO

also. getting urges to play the sims now. can my 128gb school laptop handle this? we will see

[chroniclesinlavender]

ENTRY 002: Dreams (Part 2) [with transcript]

"Isaiah embarks on a chase in the night. Aran helps someone in need."

TRANSCRIPT:

[Chronicles in Lavender. Art and Story by Koishi. ENTRY 002: Dreams (Part 2)]

[December 13, 2019. 3:33 AM]

ISAIAH: That was a new dream! A NEW DREAM!!! I've never had a dream like that before! But what does it mean? Is there even any meaning behind it?? What did that butterfly mean when it said it'd help me??? And why does it's voice sound so... familiar?

ISAIAH: wait WAIT HOLD UP!! [thinking] SHIT! I'm gonna lose it! [through text to Amaliah] headin out for a bit will prolly be back in the morning dont touch my shit

ISAIAH: [thinking] What the hell am I doing? Am I really gonna ride up a mountain just to chase after some dream butterfly? ...Goddamn sone of a bitch. Some horror movie-ass shit I'm getting myself into...

ISAIAH: No no NOOO UGH why couldn't you stay on the path... Okay... I guess... Since I already came this far... Where is that stupid-- Ahah! I see it! Why am I doing this?

ISAIAH: AAH-!

???: Child Of The Moon, First Of The Descended, From Across A Thousand Lightyears And Ten Thousand Lifetimes You Have Been Led Astray. A Wrong That Must Be Righted, A World That Shall Undergo, A Great Change, A People Who Must Be Brought Home, With This, We Shall Mend What Is Broken And Burn The Bridge. Take On This Burden, And You Shall Be Given All That Has Been Promised.

ARAN: [unintelligible]

ISAIAH: uuuuuuugh... hmmmmg.... everything huuuuurts..... christ, my head... w-wha?

ISAIAH: hnnnk- hah... guh... w-where the... hell is the... fucking mirror?

PROPHET: Let me pull one up for you!

ISAIAH: Wait, who just said... that? yo wHAT THE FUCK!?!?

ISAIAH: Where the HELL am I??? What is this... shit on... my... FACE!? AGH-! ow ow ow... Is this some kinda weird prank? My head still hurts... I can't remember how I got here. I need to get my bearings. ...My journal! Please please please please... Oh thank GOD I still have my phone on me. No signal... That's... not ideal. Okay, I have no clue where I am or how I got here... But I ain't finna stick around and find out.

ISAIAH: w-whoa... WHOA!!! OW--! Okay, maybe... go at it a little bit slower... I need to get outta here before whoever brought me here comes ba--

ARAN: ...so if I leave now I-- Ah! You're awake! Thank the stars! I was worried for a beat that you weren't going to come to! Are you feeling okay? how's yo--

ISAIAH: nah nah NAH whatever you are you stay the HELL away from me!!!

ARAN: Whoa whoa, bug, it's okay! I just wanted to check that you're alright! I'm not going to hurt you!

ISAIAH: Yeah, sure, good for you. I'unno what kinda fucked up prank this is, but I ain't in the mood! Y'ALL HEAR THAT!? i AIN'T PLAYIN AROUND NO MORE!!

ARAN: M-Maybe I should've brought them to a professional... Here, I'll go and get you some water, and summon a skeeter to take you to a clinic-hive. Just wait right he--

ISAIAH: WAIT WAIT WAIT!!! Where... am I, exactly?

ARAN: Oh, sorry! You must be so confused! You're in a spare cell of my hive! I kind of panicked when I saw you by the river, and your vitals weren't showing up on Prohet, aso I didn't know if I--

ISAIAH: Okay again, wait... "found me by a river??"

ARAN: Y-Yeah, you were lying there passed out on the riverbank. I was worried you were dead, but I felt you breathing so I thought I should bring you home until you came too, since it was so early in the morning.

ISAIAH: So... this ain't no kidnapping thing? I can just... up and leave?

ARAN: Uh... yeah s-sure! If you want! I'm not trying to kidnap you. You can walk out the front port if you feel up to it!

ISAIAH: Aight bet. L-Lemme just... aH COME ONE! OOF-

ARAN: Whoooaaa I've got you! Here, let me help you to the door!

ISAIAH: Why do my... legs feel so o-off?

ARAN: It's alright! We can go one step at a time. Wati there! I'll get you some water. I need a water dish, Prophet.

PROPHET: Of course! Here you are.

ARAN: Here, just in case!

ISAIAH: The... water's in a plate.

ARAN: Yeah, why?

ISAIAH: ...Thanks, but I'm good for now. As soon as I can stand, I'm gone. Taking this stuff off of me too.

ARAN: Are you... talking about your chitin?

ISAIAH: My what? I dunno, man! Whatever this shit is. ugh... what did you... glue all of this... hmmg... on me or... something?

ARAN: Hey, stop that! You're going to hurt yourself!! Just... let's go outside, alright? Up you go! Maybe some fresh air will do you some good!

ISAIAH: ...yeah, I guess. And... thank for not kidnapping me, um...

ARAN: Al-Aran, but just "Aran" is fine by me!

ISAIAH: Cool... I'm Isaiah.

ARAN: Nice to meet you! Now let's get you out of here!

ISAIAH: I think I've seen this place in a... dream? [coughing] Yo what the he-- oh. OH!!! It came off! Aran, how did you do that--

ARAN: [in Seraphic] Ān… ĀN ĞŌGĞRSL OLISĀC PR̄- ASĒYA?? (What... WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO YOU!?)

ISAIAH: ...wuzzat now?

[Ēzm̄fl īn-hōn pi-jalzègxa olsl… (To be continued in the next entry...)]

[subskz]

Aur right Miss Rin, I WANNA KNOW when u became a Stay. You honestly give Stay since Debut vibes (especially w/ ur love of Levanter) but I am often Wrong saur...

I, personally, only became a Stay in April 2021. My friends peer-pressured me into changing my pfp on Discord to Felix and I was like "He's actually p cute.. what group is he from?" and the rest is history. Now I'm the #1 Yeni Lover and Awkward Silence Enthusiast.

I also dragged my mom into this mess too in June 2021 (she's Felix biased with Chan as a bias wrecker and she also loves Hyunjin, Han, & Seungmin too). She went to the concert with me, so we both witnessed the infamous:

"Felix!!! Take me, Felix!!!" -Han Jisung; July 14, 2022

She laughed, I was absolutely Going Insane in the seat next to her with the thought: "The sub!skz council must know abt this"

ANYWAYS

Bonus Question: What's your favorite random Skz song? Can be a title track, b-side, solo, duet, trio, sub-unit, player, record, cover, etc.

Bonus BONUS Question: What's your favorite "era" for each member? For me, it's:

Chan - Miroh or Yellow Wood

Minho: Levanter (specifically all these looks⬇️ the satin(?) shirts with the sheer ascots)

Changbin: Go Live

Hyunjin: Oddinary

Han: I am Who?

Felix: Noeasy

Seungmin: 5-star

Jeongin: Maxident

hello my dearest pink! please the way u got into skz is killing me…lix is the most dangerous gateway drug huh 😭 what drew u to yeni? im wondering if back door being their most recent cb at the time had anything to do w it bc i think he shone so much in that era <3

i am unfortunately not a debut stay ㅠ but i’m kinda honored i give off that vibe hehe i got into skz in january 2019! my friend had been trying to get me into kpop for so long but i just never clicked w any groups she showed me…then one day i came across the name “stray kids” on twt and it stood out to me bc i thought it was cool! so i checked out i am you and immediately fell in love…my friend was so mad LOL. miroh will always hold a special place in my heart bc it was not only my first comeback w skz but their first win too!!

it’s so cute that u got ur mother into them too!! she has good taste 😼 I REMEMBER WHEN U SENT UR ASK ABT THAT LMAOO little did she know the absolute illness that unleashed on us all…a moment in sub skz history

hmm if im understanding the question right u mean just any random song out of their discography? if that’s the case i’ll go w silent cry! how abt u?

i agree so much abt lino’s levanter styling…the soft sweaters n silk shirts they had him in made him look so so angelic 😞 i’m a bit indecisive so i probably cant settle on just one era for each member heh

chan - i am you/go live

lino - levanter/i am who

binnie - miroh/go live

hyune - i am who/levanter

jisung - miroh/5 star

felix - yellow wood/oddinary

seungmo - 5 star/maxident

innie - maxident/in life

[melvinthedepressedrobot]

so my self-image is weird bc like. there's the way I see myself and the way (I think) others perceive me

and the last bit makes things especially confusing bc being audhd makes reading other people really fucking difficult and some of it just doesn't make sense to me

like as an example I try my fucking hardest to like... track how well I've passed depending on how I look and sometimes that shit just doesn't make sense to me??

rambling and photos under the cut

like, okay, 2013, the year after I came out when I finally had my first Boy Haircut and got a bunch of Boy Clothes bc I was obsessed with passing

and as far as I can tell, I did pass reasonably well

then skip ahead to 2016 when I finally got a hairstyle I liked FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE and had started experimenting w dressing more fem again and started T aaaaaaand I stopped passing

and even w my voice changing I still got "she" A LOT, consistently, no matter how I had my hair or how I dressed, masc or fem and even after top surgery in 2018 right thru to 2019 where in the first part of the year my hair grew out bc I couldn't afford to get it cut AND bleached (and was too afraid to bleach it at home) until I just got tired of being misgendered at work and got it cut w my natural hair colour and then SUDDENLY I PASSED PERFECTLY. NOBODY HAD A FUCKING CLUE WHEN I WENT TO UNI - this was also the skinniest I've been in my adult life, I still wore a mostly dark colour palette and didn't really have any facial hair yet

.....and then I went back to blond (and also started parting my hair rather than brushing it over) in 2020 and started getting misgendered again?? that was when i started really moving towards more pastel in my everyday wardrobe but a lot of the time I was def still more on the masc end of the spectrum, and also finally started showing a bit of facial hair (or, at least, a neckbeard) and also putting weight back on

and that just continued p much consistently since, no matter how I dressed or had my hair and at this point I genuinely have no idea how I'm perceived in the everyday - I've gone through several hair changes, my everyday wear is p much entirely pastel these days, I have fairly visible facial hair which I often emphasize w eyebrow powder/pens and I'm p chubby again and I can never really tell what I'm gonna get?? I've had days w shorter hair, no makeup and a darker, more masc outfit and gotten "she", but then I went out the other week in a full pastel outfit w a skirt and makeup and my pink/blue hair that's gonna hit my shoulders any day now and got an affirmation from somebody who thought I was a girl just for a second and then realised I'm not which. BLEW MY FUCKING MIND, THAT NEVER HAPPENS

and obv I try not to let how others, particularly strangers, perceive me dictate... well, anything, but at the same time it's disheartening to have spent a decade figuring out who the fuck I am, doing affirming things like hormones and surgery and dressing in ways that make me happy and then repeatedly get feedback from most of the world that it doesn't matter who I am, I look some kind of way so I must be something else

and especially when I don't actually know what the thing I'm doing "wrong" is!!! is it my hair?? my clothes?? my weight??? height?? the way i talk?? the way i stand???? I HAVE NO IDEA

i don't really have a point w this, it's just something i think about a lot and it puzzles me

[drjohndisco]

Please tell me more about Talos (w/ spoilers welcomed). I’m considering getting into Secret Invasion and making my own Skrull oc to husband. So please tell me about them! —Nic

@me-myself-and-my-fos

.........Well considering my blog's current description background hex-code is his (skrull form's) eye colour, I have to oblige you.

Now, I have been on the Talo.s train since Ca.ptain Ma.rvel came out in 2019 (I think he's most of my tag), but didn't put a whole lot of thought into him (as I didn't really want to write out/work around his wife.)

(You know I love a good millitary man.)

Now, putting it in the simplest of terms, he's in my head due to them killing his wife off-screen (which. i'm mad about) and dialling his pathetic-ness up to ten. They also added a few other concepts (like the number of skrulls on earth) which opened up a lot of opportunities...

He's so charming and sarcastic. Good at fighting (or, he used to be), and very perceptive - which is why he bounces well off Nick. Has a strong sense of what's right and wrong, and sticks to it. Nice voice (I had his pronunciation of 'Bob' stuck in my head for a solid 2 hours), which, tbh, is at least 50% of the appeal.

I also dress similarly to him, oops?

Now, in terms of potential self inserts (since i already have one for daredevil/the mcu) I was thinking about a (non skrull) shape-shifter that had been hanging around with the ravagers at some point pre c.aptain ma.rvel canon. They're different to the skrulls, as they can change into inanimate objects, and find that preferable to human form. Although when they're in human form they either change appearance fully, or change some little things (like hair colour.)

They also have a cool space cat (not a flerken), which you can see the stars through. This cat is called ghost.

Also!! I will also answer your other ask, I just have to screen-record (I'm compiling his scenes) and then grab screen-caps.

Hope this was what you wanted!!!

[tottymatsuno]

The interesting thing is I've been collecting merch since sept 2019? So initially I'd buy lots/sets for sale, with a specific price range in mind for the amount of items. If it felt like a fair price, and I could swing it, I'd get it.

However I only typically would buy stuff if I were either manic or suicidal (rn im hypomanic and have suicidal ideation lol) so I'd buy shit w the idea "this is insurance to prevent me from doing something permanent" whenever I talk about buying merch in therapy my girlie asks me whats wrong bc its usually a yellow/red alert event

I'd say I've probably spent around 5k now since I first started collecting. My apartment isn't super decorated with stuff, mostly bc i share a LOT of my ososan collection w my toddler.

So i started with buttons, pins, acrylics, then moved onto clearfiles, paper goods, then the dubs came out, so I bought both of those, then I started moving onto clothes, and the books. It took maybe 2ish years to get a lot of the books. I still have a lot of the books I'd like to get, like the complete hesokuri book, but thats like 200$? And i cant in good consciousness buy that any time soon.

I also started getting the DVDs. Which is fun because theres extra content on there. I also joined the fanclub, and honestly i forgot what the point of this post was

But i think in general buying totty stuff has basically become one of my tenants for survival. Imo everyone has gotten either really good at, or amassed a lot of whatever subject that will keep them alive. For some people its art, or playing games (whether or not a specific one or in gen), a subject they're really knowledgeable about, a skill like fixing stuff, or being funny, some people get lots of mugs, or hoard data, or upgrade computers, or collect bugs. Idk!

What keeps me alive so far is: my kid, my resourceful administrative skills, collecting todo merch, my archivist nature, and my unrelenting optimism.

I think I'm pretty fortunate to have those abilities when life would be incredibly difficult for someone as stubborn as me otherwise. These past 2 years have been pretty crazy id say with everything ive dealt with, so honestly it's nice to have something effective to pull me out of a bad mood.

Anyways I'm just feeling fortunate.

[trowel1sthename]

Arthur's Valentine

pairing: lee seokmin (arthur) x fem! reader (radio dj)

genre: angst (with a pinch of fluff)

w/c: 836

It shouldn't be this hard; all I have to do is open my mouth and speak. That’s it. He spoke to himself.

Spoke too soon. As the young man brought his phone closer to his ear, he knew unwanted memories would impale right through him. 

Ahh, I’m nervous—just like the old days, huh?

—-------

“Uhm, hi? " And there spoke the person on the other line.

God, I suppose this is it, he mumbled.

“Hi! Thank you for calling. This love guru is at your service! How may I help you?" The enthusiasm ignited by the feminine unconsciously placed a small smile on the young man.

"My name’s Arthur,” he said shortly. “What a lovely name! Arthur, may I hear about the love mix-up you’re experiencing? Let's see what we can do to ease that."

“She's my age, pretty, smart, and all the possible compliments you can decipher,” Arthur uttered.  “She’s pretty competitive and in...

—--

June 21, 2016

It was dark and gloomy for a university’s commencement. A fine day, I suppose.

As I found my scholarly courage to get through the day, a ray of sunshine came close.

As if the current weather were halted, she opposed

Her eyes captivated me as if they had their own stories to tell that I could listen to.

—--

July, 30, 2016

I joined radio broadcasting, and she was there too.

Her chocolate brown eyes complement her honey-like voice.

We have exchanged facts: I was born on January 14th, and she was born on February 14th.

Therefore, I’ll call her Valentine—my Valentine.

—--

02/14/2017

As we became closer, my feelings lingered.

I felt the need to protect her and be with her.

Now, with sweaty hands and a shivering voice, I sang my heart to her.

A big amount of relief was removed from the chest as she smiled—a form of response, I believe.

—--

02/14/2018

I thank all the deities that heard my plea.

Through her laughs, sorrows, and confusion, I can see

I hope that what we have now will grow as strong as the centennial tree.

I cannot promise, Valentine, but I’ll always try to be the reason for your smile for the world to see.

—--

02/14/2019

Maybe I was wrong to assume that what we have is eternal.

I vividly remembered how her tears welled up in her eyes. I did not like that.

Maybe I missed out on the part that we were in college back then—we had our dreams before ours.

As my Valentine’s hand slipped away from my fingertips, I held on to our memories.

Memories, like footprints that were left along the coast since it was never the tourist’s destination.

Memories wherein I constantly hum to your favorite songs to not forget your voice.

Memories of your blank stares whenever you are in deep thought.

Memories that I will perpetually rewind, even if the plot is predictable.

Valentine, I still annually commemorate your natal day.

However, I think this will be the last time.

I have loved you; to lie would be a crime.

From now on, I’ll try my best to move forward, and this letter will now end to where it started.

I’ll go for now, Valentine.

-----

Every word uttered by Arthur made his throat dense, heart heavy and eyes stinging as well. When he decided to take this call, the least thing he expected are the few tears that slides his brunette eyes. It’s been years yet the pain stays as fresh as yesterday. 

“Uhmm…that’s awfully despairing, Mr. Arthur.” sniffs where heard from the other line that made Arthur chuckle a bit – coarsely prompting him feel a little at ease. “Hey, are you crying?”

“Well Mr, you just chosen the words so perfectly delicate. If heart can do speak, maybe it was exactly like this” A compliment he knew nothing but a plain response. If only she could listen to this differently.

“Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself. Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well.” Philippians 2:3-4

"They were never selfish in choosing their career since they had their priorities before building their dreams together as a couple. I would like to commend Mr. Arthur for respecting Ms. Valentine’s decision. Although you have already formed a relationship closely linked to a person, it was a mutual decision to focus on their career. Love is one of the important components of a complex neurochemical system that allows the body to adapt to highly emotional situations. That is how I can define you, Mr. Arthur."

"Thank you for those uplifting words, Ms. Love Guru. Your nickname does flatter your idiom. Well, I think, this is where we end I guess? I should get going now. Again, thanks for listening."

“No worries, Mr. Arthur. Bye for now.” 

“My Arthur, from Valentine”, Ms. Love Guru thought.

#seventeen#seventeen fluff#seventeen scenarios#seventeen fic#seventeen imagines#seventeen x reader #dokyeom x y/n#dk x you#seokmin x reader#dokyeom svt #dokyeom fluff#svt fluff#seventeen scenarios#seventeen angst#dk angst#kpop fic#kpop x reader#kpop imagines

[mirandamckenni1]

Liked on YouTube: WHAT'S UP WITH AMERICANS AND NUDITY? | Feli from Germany || https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5_1eiLzXDY || Compare news coverage from around the world and across the political spectrum with Ground News: https://ift.tt/MVU3A9y ▸"Florida principal forced to resign after showing students Michelangelo's 'David' statue" or "Parents Complain About 'Pornographic' David Statue" 👈 These types of headlines went around the world a couple months ago and left many people in Italy and other countries utterly confused. What's wrong with the David Statue? How could anyone think this is p*rn? So let's talk about how nudity is handled in everyday situations in the US compared to Germany, and why it seems to be such a big taboo topic in the US! Related videos: ABSTINENCE-ONLY?! Sex Education USA vs. Germany ▸https://youtu.be/eTnr9q70_jw Sex Ed & Teen Relationships in Germany vs. USA w/ @MyMerryMessyGermanLife ▸https://youtu.be/34-ZReaxZ2s @DreamPrague CZECHIA vs. USA (different attitudes towards nudity) ▸https://youtu.be/anv0BRs_T5w Get your Bavarian beer mug or Servus t-shirt ▸https://ift.tt/vpeRuZr Check out my PODCAST (with Josh)▸ https://www.youtube.com/understandingtrainstation or https://ift.tt/7R4Gzwr FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook▸https://ift.tt/SwdC9ui (Feli from Germany) Support me on Patreon▸ https://ift.tt/dOgcwM7 Instagram▸@felifromgermany▸https://ift.tt/QpLUNkF Buy me a coffee▸https://ift.tt/sLGOKXg ▸Mailing address: PO Box 19521 Cincinnati, OH 45219 USA ------------------------- 0:00 Recent headlines about the David statue 1:40 What exactly happened in Florida? 6:13 Reactions in Italy & other countries 8:20 Nudity Germany vs. USA: #1 Sauna 9:22 #2 Nudism/FKK 11:57 #3 Communal showers 13:45 #4 Doctor's office 14:50 #5 Breastfeeding 17:08 #6 Media 19:41 Nudity = cultural difference 20:06 Possible explanations 24:25 Sex in American pop culture ------------------------- ABOUT ME: Hallo, Servus, and welcome to my channel! My name is Felicia (Feli), I'm 29, and I'm a German living in the USA! I was born and raised in Munich, Germany but have been living in Cincinnati, Ohio off and on since 2016. I first came here for an exchange semester during my undergrad at LMU Munich, then I returned for an internship, and then I got my master's degree in Cincinnati. I was lucky enough to win the Green Card lottery and have been a permanent resident since 2019! In my videos, I talk about cultural differences between America and Germany, things I like and dislike about living here, and other topics I come across in my everyday life in the States. Let me know what YOU would like to hear about in the comments below. DANKE :) ------------------------- MY FILMING EQUIPMENT Camera: https://ift.tt/UVO5Zy2 MAIN LENS (Sigma 18-35mm F1.8): https://ift.tt/PI3UG0b Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens: https://ift.tt/fY4kDLZ Tripod: https://ift.tt/YXFDgOr Remote: https://ift.tt/3h1TGHY Lighting: https://ift.tt/F5fpe8K Back Light: https://amzn.to/3gJD8QL H1 Zoom Recorder (audio): https://ift.tt/T169eOh Lav Microphone: https://ift.tt/rYpD9h5 GoPro Vlogging Setup: GoPro: https://ift.tt/Wl3Y1Ct Case: https://ift.tt/tDprchC Tripod: https://ift.tt/RvSbkle Microphone: https://ift.tt/Islahjt Mic Adapter: https://ift.tt/jNKapez Mount: https://ift.tt/4b2zYsK *These links are Affiliate links. If you buy the product through that link, I'll receive a small provision while the price for you stays the same! Thanks for your support! :) ------------------------- Music by ARTMAN MUSIC https://ift.tt/798dGTF based on a theme by https://ift.tt/HcWmFK9 (CC BY 4.0)

[arcane-ish]

I don't think that "we were interested in those characters (ie [my guess] Caitlyn, Jinx, Warwick, Viktor)" implies "we don't think Vi is interesting".

My suspicion is more that they saw it "Vi got her turn and now we also want to do those other characters".

Take Silco for example. My guess is that they enjoyed writing him, but they felt that his story came to a natural and so they killed him and didn't feature him a ton in season 2. They had gotten what they wanted out of him. Silco fans clearly felt very differently. But in the end, it is their call to make.

Writers will always make decisions about who gets screentime and hero moments and badass lines. Them making Vi the character with the most focus in season 1 in itself is a favoritism choice because from an IP point of view, all these charactres are pre-existing and there is no practical reason to make Vi the point of view character of season 1 when in game is is equal to Caitlyn and to Ekko and to Viktor and to Bliktzcrank and to Camille and to 100 characters that didn't make it into the show.

They chose her because they like her (favoritism) and because they had potential. But they also like other charactres and see potential in other stories.

. If Vi is not interesting for you to explain to us more then why did you make us attached to her?

I find that an approach I can't get behind. The same logic could be used by the Silco fans to argue "you made us love Silco now you HAVE to make season 2 completely about him". What if fans have decided they have attached to Heimerdinger or to I dunno, the SevikaxSalo pairing and now the writers OWE them. (also worth nothing, it seems season 2 was written in 2019? before Arcane ever aired to the general public)

In the end to some extent it is normal that the writers want to make you care about all the characters, but they will make calls about what to focus on.

Don't get me wrong, I DEEPLY dislike many of their decisions. I for example DEEPLY think that doing the whole Viktor glorious evolution stuff and making it the main threat of Act 3 was a strategic mistake.

But at the same time, reading/listening to the interviews I understand that it's a story he really wanted to tell and it's one the artists put tons of creative effort in and some fans are into it and others (like me) aren't.

In the end, they get to have artistic freedom. (and I'm glad that he's at least smart enough to want to step away and have the next stories handled by other people)

they made her a dumbass character who only understands fighting,

That's not the vibe I got from season 2. I see a lot of traces of Vi having good instincts about people (ie following Singed, Remi's people). Act 1 seemed to be about the moral instincts vis a vis Cait.

Amanda Overton did an interview from which I got "We wanted to explore who Vi is if you take everything away from her/we see Vi's fundamental trait as being a protector and we wanted to explore who she is if she no longer has anybody to protect". To which I say ... okay... but it feels like the answer you came up with is something like "a shellshocked self destructive traumatized husk"?

I genuinely don't think that it's that much of a problem that they made Vi so heavily about physical fighting... it's that they did that and THEN made her fighting pretty useless? I wrote a lenthy analysis of the finale battle and I genuinely think that if Vi had gotten to be more heroic and successful, even just in a pure physical sense we would have walked away feeling a lot better about Vi. At least superficial satisfaction for "she's a figther and being a fighter is important and valuable and essential to this world".

Caitlyn and Ekko do heroic moves in the battle because of their smarts and their iron hard determination. Jinx and Jayce do heroic moves by reaching out to the baddie and doing heroic sacrifice. And what does Vi do?

I think it's one thing that let's say Vi fans wanted deep hurt-comfort exploration of Vi's trauma. I would say that was always unlikely to happen (I feel the same way when I see people the bemoan that the show wasn't about Zaun crushing Piltover in the dirt of Mel fans saying they wish the show had been only about schemes and politics and not action fighting). But imo they failed Vi even within the story they gave her.

I genuinely think Vi's story would have "rolled off the tongue" better if she had been down there with Caitlyn fighting back to back against Ambessa instead of Mel. Or if it had been her instead of Ekko smashing Viktor's mask.

Of it the show ended up on Vi finding the evidence that Jinx might still alive and not Caitlyn. (signalling = oh, Vi smart)

Or if the show had ended on episode 8. If it would have felt that the conclusion of her story is "okay, if you strip her of everthing, then Vi will choose life, symbolized by her having sex with Caitlyn". But instead we have:

1.) a whole episode where Vi does barely anything except watch in horror as other people die (after we already had that sort of in the Act 2 finale too)

2.) the looming idea that Jinx might be alive and okay ... so how would Vi feel about that? It leaves her story feeling unfinished in a particularly unsatifying way

(I compare that to Ekko for example, Ekko is strictly speaking in the same situation where if Jinx faked her death he doesn't know and his ending is very mornful and bittersweet-to-bitter. But I think it works better because his theme that arc was the whole "leaping forward while leaving something behind", so I personally walk away with a slighty better feeling for Ekko, like he would understand. But of course he also got "wins". He smashes Viktor's mask. He talks Jinx out of suicide. He is just a supporting character (outside of maybe episode 7), but you can still feel good about his character).

Vi was not devoid of good character moments. Her standing up to Cait at the end of Act 1 was an important moment. Her trusting Jinx and about Vanderwick was an important moment. The problem is that Act 3 doesn't manage to tie to together in a way that is satisfying.

"Dirt under your nails" isn't without merit. I guess it's supposed to signal to us, that no matter what you take away from Vi (original family, Jinx, Vanderwick) she will keep on fighting? But it just feels kind of meh, especially with how ill fitting she was in the big action finale.

I'm afraid the same writers will be writing the next shows.

They won't. For one supposedly the Noxus show has been in the works for a year while Arcane was still being finished. And Christian Linke had talked explicitly about how he wanted to find new people to tell those other stories. That they think of the new shows as representing the regions and him and Alex were the right people for Piltover and Zaun but they need to find somebody else for Noxus for example.

I wouldn't rule out that he might do another show (he has mentioned somewhere that he would like to maybe do more with the more whimsical parts of the IP, but to be honest, other parts of statement sound like they were pretty exhausted [and that was before the criticism over the finale was in] )

My guess is the Noxus thing will have a different creative team with their own priorities. (that said this approach with a multi character focus might by a likely side effect of League and of how League is structured).

For what it's worth, I don't think you and I ware even that much in disagreement about the flaws of season 2. i just don't think that switching Vi to supporting was necessary impossible to pull off. I think there's plenty of ways that could have been done and still have left her with a story that makes the fans feel reasonably good about it.

(for what it's worth, I think Warwick's story was also extremely messy and similarly jumbled as Vi's even thought that was one of the new stories they wanted to tell. Or the Commander Caitlyn story was introduced with so much pomp in Act 1, I wouldn't say it was completely fumbled [it ends with Caitlyn's badass sacrifice of her eye], but I would argue it still wasn't as emotionally resonant as it could have been, this is my read of Jinx's ending btw and why I think it is meant to be uplifting by the writers [mileage may vary])

Vi season 2

Saying this about Vi, considering the fact that fundamentally the very basis of the show is about the relationship between her and Jinx is INSANE. The description for the show literally tells the audience it’s a story about two sisters and because the writers grew uninterested with one of them, they sidelined her.

I’m happy she got her happy ending, and i do believe that her writing remained consistent, my biggest issue with Vi this season was that she did feel sidelined, THAT was very obvious. I love her as a character outside of her relationship with Jinx and Caitlyn, however we didn’t get to see that this season.

Regardless if the ending stayed the same, Jinx and Vi barely interacting in the last act felt off. It’s really disappointing to see that one of the shows main and most important characters get sidelined in favour of others

anyway yeah there’s my rant bc seeing this shit on twitter has been pissing me off

[femsolid]

“We’re in 2019. Female hair is CENSORED everywhere. You don’t see it on TV. You don’t see it in magazines or adverts. There is an injunction of society for women to remain 'soft' and completely hairless. Just like a little girl. I don’t believe that’s a coincidence. Young, skinny, hairless girls have been very popular in the media for years and it makes me wonder. Who's behind it all? Who's perpetuating this message about women looking like adolescent girls? It sometimes feels rather paedophilic. It worries me.” – Camille Alexander. Musician (2019)

“Years ago I did think about getting laser hair removal for my navel hair, but then I realised I'd be paying a couple of hundred pounds just to conform to expectations that I don't even care about– I'd much rather use the money for a holiday or circus lessons! I think that's one of the things which annoys me so much about society and the media's expectation for women to be basically hairless– they're pressuring us to invest serious time and money and endure pain. It's a double standard and it's unfair. Being able to accept your body– hair, scars and all– is freeing. I remember seeing my Aunt Glynis dancing to reggae in the 90s with her armpit hair showing– she looked so confident, happy and free. As a child, I couldn't put my finger on 'why', but I can now. On a practical level, it feels pretty darn good when I consider how much time, money and pain I've saved by accepting my body as it is. I like to think that that memory of my aunt being free and totally comfortable in her own skin is one that I can emulate and pass onto other girls and women. It hasn't always been received well though. At Lambeth County Fair one year, a friend of a friend was seriously freaked out when he saw my armpits. He asked me "what's wrong with you? Why would you do that?!", which was pretty amusing but bewildering. It reminded me there will always be people out there who may react and judge me like that. Thankfully, the opinion of people who think like that means very little to me! For me having hair and not caring is a bit like being part of a secret club. When you notice someone else who is resisting society's expectations and staying hairy you feel solidarity and respect. It's nice to be part of that.” – Isabel (2019)

“As a teenager, I remember trying to stuff myself into a box of what a girl should be like. It always felt uncomfortable; padded bras, shoes that hurt and shaving rash. Running, swimming and climbing have helped me to see the strength and resilience in my body and to love it for what it is. Growing my armpit hair has been a recent experiment and the longer it gets, the more I like it! I like the way it looks & feels. It has given me a new respect for myself. So I say, embrace growth & if it pleases you, let it all grow!” – Jess (2018)

“Shaving, epilating or waxing hurts. I was tired of suffering, trying to adapt to the image of a ‘beautiful young woman’ society is selling us. Everybody told me to shave. As a teenager, it’s a huge subject among girls; where do you shave? What method are you using? It takes so much time and costs so much money (the majority of hair removal products are also not recyclable). All of these reasons coming one after another motivated me to stop shaving. I would often have irritated skin after shaving and being a very sporty person, the sweat and the friction of my clothes would cause pain.The worst thing was having sex on the second day after shaving my vulva. I didn't understand why women would suffer and waste so much time on hiding who they really are. By showing my body hair on stage, I would like to stimulate and change people’s point of view. I’d like to motivate women to make their own choices.”

– Darian Koszinski. Circus artist (2018)

“I stopped shaving completely when I was a teenager because of two instances. The first? I got tired of all the time wasted on maintenance and the discomfort that came with it. The second was when I went on a few multiple week-long backpacking trips; it would have been extremely inconvenient to spend hours ripping my hair out, so I let things grow. Being so close to nature let me dive deeper into and re-examine the relationship with myself and the world, acting as a mirror. In nature, there is wild; it is as beautiful as it is untamed. How could it be anything other than that? I felt so relieved and free when I let it grow out. It felt like being able to breathe. It was incredibly comfortable too. I felt a confidence and boldness returning, like I was replenishing some kind of primal power. I will say that a very pleasant side effect of having armpit hair is its ability to ward off rude people whom I wouldn’t care to interact or associate with anyway. Because the people that care about that sort of thing and make it a point to say how disgusted they are, are precisely the kind of people that I don’t want in my life.”

– Kyotocat (2017)

“At this point in life, I feel that the real question shouldn't be 'why did you let your armpit hair grow?' But actually, 'why did you shave in the first place?' Please celebrate your body! Own who you are and be that! Those who celebrate who and what they are, are creating a much open and safer space for those who are struggling to understand who and what they want to be in life. It might be easier said than done but give it a try. We'll then help create a healthier and understanding society with less bullshit than there already is...”

– Alex Wellburn (2017)

“I never stopped shaving because I never started. I do remember my mother shaving when I was younger and I thought that was pretty unnecessary since she was a strict muslim. I later realised it's a thing women do to look more desirable to men. It really irritated me that the people who reacted negatively to my natural armpit hair were men. Like it was the most disgusting thing in the world. It really gets on my tits. This is just one more reason that I don't shave it off. It belongs to me and I don't make noise about the "ugly"; hair on men which are sometimes pretty painful in the eye... But you've got to get over it and don't let these idiots get under it. I would recommend growing it to any women.”

– Ayan Mohamed. Graduate architecture student (2014)

Natural Beauty Photoshoot

[sapphireshorelines]

Like a little warm coal in my heart burns your saying that you miss me. I miss you oh so much.

Vita Sackville-West, letter to Virginia Woolf, 28 February 1926

Her fingers had left a line of fire.

Violette Leduc, Thérèse et Isabelle

I had four dreams in a row / where you were burned, about to burn, or still on fire.

Richard Siken, Unfinished Duet

David de las Heras, The Red Cloud / Leo Plaw, Burning Desire

I am scared to death of arousing physical feelings in her, because of the madness. I don’t know what effect it would have, you see: it is a fire with which I have no wish to play.

Vita Sackville-West, letter to her husband Harold Nicolson about Virginia, 17 August 1926

Understand me / when I say I burn best / when crowned / with your scent: that earth-sweat / & Old Spice I seek out each night

Ocean Vuong, Footnotes

“I admit it, my delicate, I admit it, my little burning flower.”

Violette Leduc, Thérèse et Isabelle

Christian Schloe, Portrait Of A Heart

I think of Vita at Long Barn: all fire and legs and beautiful plunging ways like a young horse.

Virginia Woolf, letter to Vita Sackville-West, 31 March 1928

I thought, if someone like that ever loved me, it would set me on fire.

Casey McQuiston, Red, White and Royal Blue

I hoped to burn out, through Hella, my image of Giovanni and the reality of his touch—I hoped to drive out fire with fire.

James Baldwin, Giovanni's Room

The burning was hurting me, our limitation hurt even more.

Violette Leduc, Thérèse et Isabelle

Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)

Desire does not go out like a match, it extinguishes slowly as it burns into ash.

Philippe Besson, Lie With Me

I daresay the old fires of Sapphism are blazing for the last time.

Virginia Woolf, from her diaries, 16 June 1930

Above all, we will no longer find the thing that first pushed us toward one another that day. That singular moment. The pure urgency of it. There were circumstances—a series of coincidences and simultaneous desire. There was something in the atmosphere, something in the time and the place, that brought us together. And then everything broke—like a firework exploding on a dark night in July that spirals out in all directions, blazing brightly, dying before it touches the ground, so that no one gets burned. No one gets hurt.

Philippe Besson, Lie With Me

Francisco De Zurbarán, detail of Allegory of Charity/ Phillipe de Champaigne, detail of Saint Augustine

Then came that July Sunday afternoon when our house suddenly emptied, and we were the only ones there, and fire tore through my guts—because "fire" was the first and easiest word that came to me later that same evening when I tried to make sense of it in my diary. I'd waited and waited in my room pinioned to my bed in a trancelike state of terror and anticipation. Not a fire of passion, not a ravaging fire, but something paralyzing, like the fire of cluster bombs that suck up the oxygen around them and leave you panting because you've been kicked in the gut and a vacuum has ripped up every living lung tissue and dried your mouth, and you hope nobody speaks, because you can't talk, and you pray no one asks you to move, because your heart is clogged and beats so fast it would sooner spit out shards of glass than let anything else flow through its narrowed chambers. Fire like fear, like panic, like one more minute of this and I'll die if he doesn't knock at my door, but I'd sooner he never knock than knock now. I had learned to leave my French windows ajar, and I'd lie on my bed wearing only my bathing suit, my entire body on fire. Fire like a pleading that says, Please, please, tell me I'm wrong, tell me I've imagined all this, because it can't possibly be true for you as well, and if it's true for you too, then you're the crudest man alive.

André Aciman, Call Me By Your Name

How should we like it were stars to burn / With a passion for us we could not return? / If equal affection cannot be, / Let the more loving one be me.

W. H. Auden, The More Loving One

Little Women (2019)

[nlghtshade]

♡ july 2022 favorites

sorry this is so late 😭 july just came and went ?? i swear it was still june just last week ... anyway ... it's finally the weekend and i've caught up and organized myself enough to polish this list up :)

so many amazing recs for amazing fic and art this month !! hidden gems s2 by @sitp-recs is officially live !! i've added so many fics to my list via the amazing submissions for wizard hearts 2022, and a soft welcome back to @softlystarstruck's softly reading lists !!

i've also been loving all the amazing fics and art coming out of @hd-wireless, @hp-bodiceripper and @gwbexchange's hd summer vibes fest ♡

and lastly just want to highlight how lovely this month has been - there's been so many birthdays, anniversaries and lovely appreciation posts for everyone going around that just !!! make my heart burst w happiness ♡ so last but not least - a special special shoutout to @rockingrobin69 and her lovely fandom recs and this piece of fandom love ♡

FIC

ever-giving heart (2021, Explicit, 6.1k) by @softlystarstruck

Harry Potter doesn't ask for help, until he does– desperately, standing on Draco's doorstep. Draco doesn't intend to get invested. Really.

All The Time In The World (2022, Mature, 7k) by @basicallyahedgehog

Since he hit puberty, Harry has been using glamours to make his body look how he feels. But when the Horcrux inside him dies, taking his body's ability to accept magic with it, he is left back at the starting line. Or, after the war Harry figures out who he wants to be with the help of his family, the world's best best-friend, and a surprising person from his past.

Day 194: Feral (2022, 2.8k) by @drarrily-we-row-along

cw: injury on a case- everyone is fine but it's a little icky.

A Saturday Kind of Love by @nv-md

For the brilliant and wonderful @emmalovesdilemmas who sent me the prompt: farmer’s market. Have I written a similar fic before? Sure have. Do I still love it? Sure do. Please enjoy some boys in love! For my Somewhat Summer Drarry Drabbles.

Heart of Gold by @phoebe-delia

This is for the marvelous, majestic, incredible birthday geese, @geesenoises. My love, I don't quite know what I'd do without you and your big heart and smart brain. You are so full of kindness, wisdom, humor and generosity. I simply adore you. Thank you, also, for introducing me to Griff. For you, I have a little songfic offering based on "Heart of Gold," which as we've discussed is a great Drarry song. I hope I've done it justice. Enjoy!

Dichotomy by @undercoverwarlock

For @drarrymicrofic's prompt, "Bike Dream" by Rostam. I don't know what this is. Enjoy?

Discord by @skeptiquewrites

for @drarrymicrofic prompt 'discord' by the living temple

The Things We Did And Didn’t Do (2017, Teen, 2k) by @gingertodgers

Harry is due back from visiting Hermione and Ron in Australia, three months after finally spending the night with Draco. It's time to DTR.

High Aspirations (2019, Teen, 3.6k) by @amelior8or

The mission was supposed to be simple — the smugglers weren’t taking Portkeys, so the Aurors just need to track them onto a Muggle aerial plane. It’s fine. Nothing can really go wrong, as long has Harry can deal with Draco flying Muggle for the first time, and with Draco completely blowing their cover. And with Draco looking really beautiful when he throws curses.

ART

♡ Discovered unposted Drarry sketch in my folders. by @schnellertod

♡ This is a continuation of a series of drawings about young Aurors Harry and Draco by @egonorainu

♡ Tit For Tat Ficbinding by @a-gay-old-time for @mintawasalreadytaken with art by @mad1492, @babooshkart, & @ihopeyoubothstaysafefromharm

also check out @mintawasalreadytaken’s newly finished sequel, Truly Being Alive !!

♡ long time no see) by @roncheg

♡ 💛🌳🗡🖼🌼 by @short666bread

♡ He was the sun / bright and warm / and I was like ice / slowly melting at his touch by @cuckooboo

jegulus

♡ draco malfoy by @adayka

♡ Sectumsempra~ by @ceresartsy

♡ Ginny & Tom by @its-nanse

♡ Wolfstar by @satzzzart

♡ Lace and Heels by @peachbabypie

♡ The Importance of Charming Draco Malfoy by @lilbeanz

♡ Redraw of that old tattooed/tattooist/something Draco and boxer Harry (or something like it). by @fantalfart

♡ Dear Padfoot, by @enselius

♡ january ♡ february ♡ march ♡ april ♡ may ♡ june